1.2 Separate Regulations exist for Doctor of Clinical Psychology.

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1 Plymouth University Regulatory Framework for Taught Postgraduate Awards Amendments since 2013/14 in bold and underlined 1 Introduction 1.1 These regulations apply to the following University of Plymouth taught postgraduate programmes: Certificate of Advanced Professional Studies Postgraduate Certificate Certificate in Management Studies Postgraduate Diploma Diploma in Management Studies Master of Arts Master of Business Administration Master of Business Management Master of Clinical Education Master of Education Master of Fine Art Master of Laws Master of Research Master of Science 1.2 Separate Regulations exist for Doctor of Clinical Psychology. 1.3 These Regulations do not apply to post-experience programmes comprising primarily modules at Levels 4, 5 and 6, or to Integrated Masters programmes. Nor do they cover the awards of Certificate of Professional Studies in Education (15 Level 7 Credits, subject to programme regulations), or Master of Surgery (an award by thesis, subject to separate Regulations within the remit of the Research Degrees Committee). 2 Programme/scheme structure 2.1 Academic study will be organised into modules, specified in terms of credits. Taught modules may vary from 15 to 60 credits. The use of modules of less than 15 credits must be justified within the approval documentation and discussed and agreed at the approval event Taught modules may be delivered within the University s approved structure, although the University acknowledges that the needs of different student groups may require alternative scheduling. This will be supported provided 1 Any other variations, other than modules included within the PD Framework and Co-Curricular Modules (e.g. Learning Through Volunteering/Student Ambassador Modules, currently 5 credits at Level 4) would require exceptional approval by Academic Regulations Sub-Committee

2 that there is a clear rationale, it can be supported effectively, and it will not limit potential interfaculty developments The credit weighting of postgraduate awards will be: Postgraduate Certificate a minimum of 60 credits Postgraduate Diploma a minimum of 120 credits Masters (including MRes) a minimum of 180 credits (see also section 9.0 below) 2.4 Masters programmes will include a major project or dissertation module worth at least 40 credits. Such a module will involve sustained, independent and individual study, normally having some research basis. This may require students to study over the Summer vacation Modules contributing to a postgraduate award must normally be Level 7. The Level of the module will be approved at the time of validation and in accordance with University guidelines. 2.6 Students may exceptionally be permitted to vary their programme of study at any stage (or level) in up to 20 core or elective credits, subject to: Approval by the student s programme manager, who would be expected to confirm that in her/his academic judgement the student would, nevertheless, fulfil the programme learning outcomes; Approval by the relevant module leader who would be requested to confirm that in her/his academic judgement the student had sufficient subject pre-requisite knowledge to successfully complete the new module. Any proposal would need to take into account timetabling and resource implications and would not normally be available to students on professional body accredited programmes. 3 Admissions 3.1 Students seeking admission to a Masters degree programme should normally hold an Honours degree or postgraduate diploma of a UK University or of the CNAA; or appropriate professional or academic qualifications4 deemed by the University to be equivalent to an Honours degree or postgraduate diploma. 2 The timing of assessment and Assessment Panels/Boards is likely to be a critical issue in the context of interfaculty programmes. 3 The dissertation/major project will in many cases be supported by an underpinning course in research methodology or similar. This may either be designated as a separate module or form part of the dissertation/project module. In the latter case, the minimum weighting of the dissertation/project module must be at least 50 credits. In MRes programmes, the dissertation may be worth up to 120 credits

3 3.2 Students seeking admission to a Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma programme should normally hold a first degree, or equivalent qualification Students who do not possess appropriate HE qualifications may be admitted to a postgraduate programme on the basis of prior experience, if the programme leader/admissions tutor considers that the candidate has thereby demonstrated the potential to complete the programme successfully. 4 Credit for prior learning (see also University Regulations on APL) See separate guidance on APCL/APEL. 5 Assessment 5.1 The purposes of assessment are: objectively to measure a student s achievements against the learning outcomes of the module to assist student learning by providing appropriate feedback on performance to provide a reliable and consistent basis for the recommendation of an appropriate award 5.2 The assessment for each module will be detailed in the Module Record and in the Programme Handbook for the award(s). This will specify whether assessment is formative and/or summative; and the elements contributing to the summative module assessment. Where assessment is by a combination of elements the weightings of each element must be stated. A full list, and definitions, of the various elements of assessment are provided elsewhere within the Academic Regulations. 5.3 A student studying on a module will be assessed according to the specified module assessment irrespective of the programme of study on which s/he is registered. 5.4 Assessment of the dissertation/major project module may include a viva voce examination, provided that this has been agreed at validation, is in line with the learning outcomes of the module and is specified in the definitive award and module record and programme handbook as part of the module assessment. 6 Successful completion of a module 6.1 The pass mark for a module at Level 7 (including the dissertation/major project module) is 50%. 6.2 Where module assessment at Level 7 involves more than one element a student is also required to achieve a minimum of 40% in each element. 4 UK, EU or international

4 6.3 Where a postgraduate programme includes modules validated at Level 6 (undergraduate level) the pass mark for the undergraduate modules will be 40% Modules which have been successfully completed cannot be reassessed. 5 And for the purposes of calculation of awards with Merit or Distinction (see 9.3, 9.4, 9.5 and 9.6 below) the marks awarded by the relevant undergraduate module assessment will stand.

5 7 Procedure in the event of failure 7.1 Where a student fails to achieve a pass in one or more taught modules, the Award Board may at its discretion, based on a judgement of the student s overall performance and potential: compensate for the failure (provided that the module mark(s) is/are within 5% of the pass mark). The maximum compensation permitted within each postgraduate award is Postgraduate Certificate 10 credits Postgraduate Diploma 20 credits Masters Degree 30 credits 6 permit the student to be reassessed in the module(s), in whole or in part of each element of assessment, at the next available opportunity (the Board will determine whether the assessment will take the same form as the original) 7 ; a student may be referred in up to 60 credits in a postgraduate dissertation module; in up to 40 credits in taught modules for PgDip and Masters programmes; and in up to 20 credits for a PgCert. While there should be no compensation for an individual module taken as accredited CPD, a module taken as accredited PD may be compensated, dependent on the module status, when it contributes to a programme or an award. permit the student to retake the module(s), with or without attendance, by a date to be determined by the Board; require the student to withdraw from the programme. 8 require a student whose extenuating circumstances will prevent the completion of the award during the normal period of registration, or have prevented her/him from making academic progress in the previous session, to interrupt studies or withdraw from the programme 9. require a student who has developed a health or other problem which prevents her/him from meeting the learning outcomes of her/his 6 Compensation will not normally be applied to a project/dissertation planning module In such cases it may be necessary for a student to resubmit the plan and for assessment to be confirmed by the external examiner in advance of the formal Subject Assessment Panel/Award Assessment Board. The interim Award Assessment Board held at the end of the postgraduate taught phase may award compensation in up to 30 credits for students registered on a Masters programme 7 A student may only be referred in a Co-Curriculum Module (e.g. Learning Through Volunteering/Student Ambassador Modules) if their overall level of failure is within the limits deemed appropriate by the Award Assessment Board. If not, a student may be required to re-take any failed Co-Curriculum Module(s) during the next academic year. 8 An Award Board will not normally require a student to withdraw unless s/he has failed and cannot under 7.4 below have a further attempt at a module. 9 This regulation is subject to a case conference being held in line with the Fitness to Study Policy.

6 programme to transfer to an alternative programme or withdraw from the programme A student who is being reassessed in an element of assessment must achieve a pass mark in that element. The student will fail the reassessment if s/he does not pass the reassessed elements even if s/he achieves a module mark of 50% (for a level 7 module) or 40% (for a Level 6 undergraduate module). The original rule for passing the module will apply for a student being reassessed in or retaking more than one element of assessment. Where a failed module is successfully retaken or repeated, the mark for the retaken/repeated element(s) will be capped at 50% and the capped mark(s) will be used when calculating the overall module mark. 7.3 Where a student fails to achieve a pass in the dissertation/major project module, the Award Board may at its discretion, based on a judgement of the student s overall performance and potential: permit the student to resubmit the work under its original title. The deadline for submission should be no more than sixteen weeks from the date of publication of results (Faculties should normally adhere to a sixteen week deadline); or require the student to submit a new dissertation/project, by a date to be determined by the Board; or require the student to withdraw from the programme require a student whose extenuating circumstances will prevent the completion of the award during the normal period of registration, or have prevented her/him from making academic progress in the previous session, to suspend or withdraw from the programme A student may be assessed in the module (taught module or dissertation/major project module) contributing to a postgraduate award on no more than two occasions. A failed module may therefore not normally be resat or repeated on more than one occasion. If a student chooses to study a different module instead of the failed module the number of attempts at the original module will count towards the maximum number of attempts at the new module. 7.5 The maximum mark for any module which has been failed and is being reassessed/ retaken will be 50% for a Level 7 module or 40% for a Level 6 module. 10 If a programme team wishes to circumscribe the use of dissertation credit from contributing to a Postgraduate Certificate / Diploma an exception to the regulations should be sought.

7 8 Industrial/professional placement 8.1 Where programme requirements include a period of industrial/professional placement, the criteria for successful completion of the placement and the means by which students will be assessed against those criteria must be approved at validation and specified within the definitive award record and programme handbook. Students who do not meet those criteria may at the discretion of the Award Board be required to repeat the placement: or withdraw from the programme 9 Awards 9.1 The following awards may be made under these Regulations: Certificate of Advanced Professional Studies in Education: requires the successful completion of Level 7 modules worth at least 30 credits Certificate in Management Studies: requires the successful completion of Level 7 modules worth 60 credits Postgraduate Certificate: requires the successful completion of modules worth at least 60 credits, of which at least 50 credits must be at level 7 Diploma in Management Studies: requires the successful completion of Level 7 modules worth 120 credits Postgraduate Diploma: requires the successful completion of modules worth at least 120 credits, of which at least 100 credits must be at Level 7 Masters Degree (MA, MBA, MBM, MEd, LLM, MSc, MRes): requires the successful completion of modules worth a minimum of 180 credits, of which at least 150 must be at Level 7 and which must include the dissertation/major project module. MFA Degree: requires the successful completion of modules worth a minimum of 240 credits, of which at least 210 must be at Level 7 and which must include the dissertation/major project module. 9.2 To qualify for an award a student must have achieved the required number of credits within these Regulations and have satisfied any programme-specific requirements. The credit achieved from a pass in the dissertation/major project may be used to contribute towards the exit award of Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma. However, this may only normally apply where the dissertation/major project has been undertaken at the University A student will be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma with Distinction provided that s/he has achieved a credit-weighted average mark of 70% or above across all the modules. 9.4 A student will be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma with Merit provided that s/he has achieved a credit-weighted average mark of 60% or above across all the modules. 9.5 A student will be awarded a Masters degree with Distinction provided that s/he has achieved a credit-weighted average mark of 70% or above across all

8 modules (including the dissertation/major project) and the mark for the dissertation/major project module is not less than 70%. 9.6 A student will be awarded a Masters degree with Merit provided that s/he has achieved a credit-weighted average mark of 60% or above across all modules (including the dissertation/major project) and the mark for the dissertation/major project is not less than 60%. 9.7 Where a student withdraws or is required to withdraw from the programme on which s/he is registered, the Award Board will confer the highest award to which s/he is entitled. (See also paragraph 9.2) 10 Extenuating circumstances (see also Extenuating Circumstances Policy and Procedures for Students on Taught Programmes) 10.1 If a student has failed to sit/submit all or part of an assessment due to valid extenuating circumstances, the student has a right to sit/submit the assessment as if for the first time 11, in a form and by a date to be determined by the Board The circumstances may be such that the student is known to be unable to complete work which s/he has failed to sit/submit. If the Award Assessment Board is nonetheless satisfied that the student would have qualified for the award had the circumstances not existed, the Board may make an Aegrotat award 12. An Aegrotat award will not normally be made in the case of the MRes. 11. Period of Registration/Withdrawal 11.1 The normal period of registration for a full-time, sandwich or part-time programme of study is:- University programmes longer than one year's duration - maximum three years longer than the planned duration of the programme of study for full and part-time students, with an absolute maximum of ten years for parttime students. Programmes of one year's duration - maximum registration of three years for full-time students and five years for part-time students. An application for an extension to the agreed period of registration must be submitted in writing to the Faculty Business Manager (or nominee) for approval. 11 The use of the phrase as if for the first time throughout Section 10 should be read as meaning that the student will be offered another attempt without penalty, hence if the assessment which the student failed to complete was a first attempt, the student will be offered a sit/submit as if for the first time, and similarly for second attempts. 12 Formally the student must confirm in writing his/her acceptance of the award, but it is understood that there may be circumstances in which this is not possible (e.g. in the case of posthumous awards, or those made to students whose medical circumstances make it impossible for them to give informed consent). In such cases, the written authorisation of the chair of the Award Assessment Board, confirming the circumstances in which the award is made, will be sufficient for the award to be conferred.

9 11.2 A student may not be registered (concurrently) on more than one full-time programme of study. A student may be registered on more than one part-time programme of study, provided that work or credits contribute to only one award, unless specifically required or approved by the University through the programme approval process, or where it may be mandatory for students following research programmes to undertake taught postgraduate study Students who wish to withdraw from a module must notify the Faculty Office of their intention in writing by the end of the fourth week after commencement of the course for modules of one term s duration, and by the end of Term 1 for year-long modules. The deadline may be adjusted, as appropriate, by Faculties for modules which are delivered in a block of specified days/weeks. A student who does not formally withdraw and subsequently does not complete the module will be deemed to have failed the module. Students who withdraw from a module at this stage will not be allowed to commence another module in the same term. A Masters degree student who wishes to withdraw from a project/dissertation module must notify the Faculty Office in writing by the end of March (for programmes commencing in September), by the end of June (for programmes commencing January), or within a similar timeframe for programmes commencing at any other point in the academic year. A student who does not do so and subsequently does not present themselves for assessment will be deemed to have failed the module 13. Approved by the Academic Board 8 March 2000; Updated September Minor amendments September 2004, September 2005, October 2006, October 2007, October 2008, October 2009 (levels amended), October 2010, October 2011, September 2012, December 2013, October 2014, February This does not affect the right of a student to withdraw from a programme of study at any point during the academic year. Where a student does so, s/he will be awarded credit for any modules successfully completed prior to the date of withdrawal, but will not be permitted to complete any module assessment after the date of withdrawal. A student who has withdrawn from a programme and subsequently wishes to rejoin the programme will be required to re-apply. A student may agree with the Faculty that rather than withdraw they will suspend their registration for a period with the intention of resuming their studies. In this case the date for resumption must be agreed when the original suspension is agreed. A student who does not return by the agreed date will be deemed to have withdrawn.

10 Version number Status (final) 2014/15 v1.0 Final Summary of any amendments Owned by Academic Regulations Co-ordinator Document objectives To describe the University s regulations governing the award of taught postgraduate awards effective for the academic year Intended recipients Students and staff Approving Body and Date approved Originally approved by Academic Board, March 2000 Date of Issue This version September 2014 Review date Summer 2015 Contact for review Job Title Academic Regulations Co-ordinator Version Date Author(s) Replaces Comment v1.0 August 2013 Pat Wilde Draft used as part of annual review and update of Academic Regulations not circulated December Pat Wilde 1.0 above v v1.0 September 2014 Kate Ellis v October Kate Ellis Amended to include TLQC v v February 2015 v1.0 Kate Ellis v2.0 revisions agreed for Addition of 6.4 to bring in line with UG regulations.